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The beach at Mwaya Beach
Carrying water from the borehole
RIPPLE Africa's sign outside Mwaya Beach
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Cost of the Programme
 

Duration of Placement

Paying Your Deposit and Balance

IMPORTANT! Refund Policy
Volunteer Accommodation
Orientation and Volunteering
What Does the Money Pay For?

Extra Costs, Flights, etc.

Cancellation
Volunteers at the community library Georgina tutoring two secondary school students
 

Cost of the Programme (accommodation only) — Volunteering in Malawi, Africa

The cost of the RIPPLE Africa volunteer programme at Mwaya Beach, Malawi, is based on a non-refundable deposit of GB£150 or US$300 plus an additional amount dependent on the duration of your placement (please see the table below). Please also make sure you read our Refund Policy.

Duration of Placement
We'd prefer our volunteers to make a commitment of a minimum of three months, although shorter stays can be arranged. It is important to recognise that, although the volunteers will benefit enormously from their experience at Mwaya, our main responsibility is to provide consistent and effective assistance to the community.

 

Non-refundable
Deposit

GB£150

US$300

Non-refundable
Deposit

GB£150

US$300

Duration of Placement

Plus
Additional Cost
for Placement Duration

Plus
Additional Cost
for Placement Duration
Duration of Placement

Plus
Additional Cost
for Placement Duration

Plus
Additional Cost
for Placement Duration

1 week

£150

$300

27 weeks

£1,950

$3,900

2 weeks

£300

$600

28 weeks

£2,000

$4,000

3 weeks

£450

$900

29 weeks

£2,050

$4,100

4 weeks

£600

$1,200

30 weeks

£2,100

$4,200

5 weeks

£675

$1,350

31 weeks

£2,150

$4,300

6 weeks

£750

$1,500

32 weeks

£2,200

$4,400

7 weeks

£825

$1,650

33 weeks

£2,250

$4,500

8 weeks

£900

$1,800

34 weeks

£2,300

$4,600

9 weeks

£975

$1,950

35 weeks

£2,350

$4,700

10 weeks

£1,050

$2,100

36 weeks

£2,400

$4,800

11 weeks

£1,125

$2,250

37 weeks

£2,450

$4,900

12 weeks

£1,200

$2,400

38 weeks

£2,500

$5,000

13 weeks

£1,250

$2,500

39 weeks

£2,550

$5,100

14 weeks

£1,300

$2,600

40 weeks

£2,600

$5,200

15 weeks

£1,350

$2,700

41 weeks

£2,650

$5,300

16 weeks

£1,400

$2,800

42 weeks

£2,700

$5,400

17 weeks

£1,450

$2,900

43 weeks

£2,750

$5,500

18 weeks

£1,500

$3,000

44 weeks

£2,800

$5,600

19 weeks

£1,550

$3,100

45 weeks

£2,850

$5,700

20 weeks

£1,600

$3,200

46 weeks

£2,900

$5,800

21 weeks

£1,650

$3,300

47 weeks

£2,950

$5,900

22 weeks

£1,700

$3,400

48 weeks

£3,000

$6,000

23 weeks

£1,750

$3,500

49 weeks

£3,050

$6,100

24 weeks

£1,800

$3,600

50 weeks

£3,100

$6,200

25 weeks

£1,850

$3,700

51 weeks

£3,150

$6,300

26 weeks

£1,900

$3,800

52 weeks

£3,200

$6,400

 

Paying Your Deposit and Balance
Once you have received and accepted an offer of a placement (please read the section What Happens Next on the Application Process page), you will be required to pay the non-refundable deposit of GB£150 or US$300 to secure your place. The balance for the period of your stay is payable at least four weeks before departure. If your departure is within four weeks of acceptance, then the total figure is payable immediately. Once we receive a confirmed itinerary, we will inform our Malawian Managers and Coordinators, and the other volunteers, of your schedule and personal background. You may like to send a letter and photo to introduce yourself to the other volunteers and staff before you arrive.

IMPORTANT! Refund Policy
The deposit of GB£150 or US$300 is non-refundable. As it is very difficult for us to fill volunteer places at short notice if someone cancels prior to starting their placement or leaves the programme early, we require a 12-week notice period, and we can only refund any money already paid in excess of 12 weeks from cancellation of, or departure from, the volunteer placement. For example, if your placement is for 24 weeks and you decide to leave after eight weeks, you would be entitled to a refund equivalent to the cost of the last four weeks of your placement period (i.e. placement length of 24 weeks minus 8 weeks spent at Mwaya Beach minus 12 weeks notice period = 4 weeks). Please remember that nearly all of the money you pay for your placement goes directly towards running our charitable projects in Malawi.

Volunteer Accommodation
This comprises five lovely beach chalets with two to three people sharing, communal hot and cold showers, and toilets. Harry and Nephia, the two cooks, prepare the evening meals and wash up. Martha and Gedess wash all the clothes and bed linen. The property, which is located right on the beach, and the local area are really beautiful. For more information about Mwaya Beach, please click here.

 
Two of the volunteer chalets at Mwaya Beach Dinner on the beach at Mwaya Beach A view through the trees at Mwaya Beach
 

Orientation and Volunteering
When you reach Mwaya Beach, Malawi, you will be introduced to the RIPPLE Africa staff and volunteers. Joey and Victoria, our Malawian Managers Responsible for Volunteers, Mwaya Beach and Community Liaison, will provide an introduction to Mwaya, the projects and the volunteering opportunities. Although there will be guidelines and some structure, there is a high degree of flexibility, and we encourage individual volunteers to use their initiative.

What Does the Money Pay For?
You will be responsible for the costs involved in getting to Mwaya (i.e. flights, in-country transport, etc.). The payment to RIPPLE Africa pays for the accommodation and services. The balance is used to fund the projects run by RIPPLE Africa, together with paying for approximately 100 Malawian staff, and it is the charity’s main source of funding — the money is used carefully and effectively to improve the lives of and opportunities for the local community. You will be responsible for food costs, which are operated through a volunteer “kitty”, and these costs are about GB£0.75 or US$1.50 per day, plus any extras like drinks and transport. Most volunteers allow about GB£7.50-GB£15 or US$15-US$30 per week for food and all extras.

Extra Costs, Flights, etc.
You should allow for the following costs — but shop around:

 
Flight from the UK: GB£700 or US$1400
Travel medical insurance: GB£15 or US$30 per month
Malaria prophylaxis: GB£0.20-2.20 or US$0.40-4.40 per day, depending on what your doctor recommends. To get up-to-date prices, go to the Travelpharm website (UK only)
Vaccinations: approximately GB£150 or US$300, depending on what your doctor recommends
Visas/temporary resident’s permit: GB£25 or US$50 (after your initial three months — see Visas section)
Accommodation, taxis, etc. in Lilongwe at start and end of trip, and airport departure tax of US$30: GB£55 or US$110
Monthly costs at Mwaya, including food, drink and visits to Mzuzu: GB£35-100 or US$70-200 per month depending on how you live
 

Cancellation
Please see our Refund Policy above.

 
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Company Registration No. 04823686 • UK Registered Charity No. 1103256